Bryce sat on the chair, wiping the sweat on his forehead as he fought against the digital walls of the security system. He wouldn't give up no matter how much of a tough nut the task could be. The hidden code was hard to decipher, the default password must be something long as hell. Running the same program that cracked the elevator in the museum open was the only way. Not to mention, he should be aware in case of anyone coming inside the room and catch him red handed.
The sole benefit of hijacking the security would be to save some times. If the chamber where the item was kept also had its own password then it would help to run the lockdown mode but reversed. Once the computer was seized, he could even control the ready-to-deploy android force to take down the guards if needed. Mapping out the entire facility would be a piece of cake.
'Heh, if you think about it, this isn't too hard to accomplish.'
Bryce chuckled to himself, wondering if that was all a funded facility could do to prevent intrusion. "The night is long" or so people always said. He just needed to make sure that the process wouldn't be halted by unnecessary inconveniences. He took a rifle for himself in case of emergency, all the weaponry he got last night were are in his room and he forgot to bring them along.
There was only the tapping sound coming from his digits ma neuvering the laptop to accompany him. He continued while looking at the monitors displaying the unsuspecting staff members. It would only be a walk in the park for him if he managed not to get caught. Fortunately, it didn't seem like anyone would come by the security for a check anytime soon.
...
Mabel looked around as she walked behind Lucy and Geofrey. Each of the fancy looking shutter door did not distract them from searching for a specific chamber mentioned in a conversation that their overheard. Due to the place being exclusive for specially authorized people, the three of them crawled into the vent before anyone appeared to catch the unwanted presence.
"Uncle G, kindly navigate."
"I'm already on it. Let's head left."
The three traversed carefully in the venting system, slow and deliberate muscle movements were required in order not to alert anyone with the clanking sound of metal. Thanks to such option, they could temporarily put off the helmet of the diguise. To Lucy, it was an opportunity to breathe in the chilly air that she needed. At least her throat wouldn't be feeling too empty.
Provided that the mission had gone smoothly so far, they were still bound to be cautious when dealing with the collective manpower with a single thing in mind. Which was to never let anyone or anything at all walk away with anything owned by whoever funded the facility. The strength in number of mankind never had a weakness, especially when they all wanted to put food on the table. That could only be overwhelmed by dangerous creatures with sufficient number as well.
The three took a few lefts and rights while crawling carefully. It wasn't too cramped so there wasn't any issues about breathing. Geofrey at the very front was responsible for navigating. In fact, a small watch on his wrist was actually a device wirelessly connected with the laptop Bryce was using. Thus, he sent the map to the man which allowed the group of three to proceed while he handled security.
Suddenly stopped in his track, Mabel bumped slightly into his behind and Lucy did the same with hers.
"What's the hold up?" The confused Lucy asked.
"I think we have found our destination." Geofrey looked to see if there were any guards around before exitting.
After crawling out off the vent, they found themselves inside a huge lab with several equipments known to only the local scientific minds. Geofrey looked around to check where would seem like a good place to put the artifact in. Then, he found a door that separated two parts of the lab along with a sturdy looking wall of glass. The only problem would be the eyescan system installed into said door.
Right on cue, a scientist happened to walk inside the lab and saw the three strangers inside a restricted place. He tried to run away but was pulled back by an invisible force, slamming his back into the wall.
"W-what's going on? Who are you people?"
"Thank you, Mabel." Geofrey turned into a guy in his lab coat. "Doctor... Greene, I presume? We only wanted to retrieve something being kept in here."
"That? You can't have it. It's a treasure of mankind that belongs to those who wish to ascend the civilization."
"I'm afraid that you're not one to dictate."
Mabel walked towards the iron door at the same time as Dr. Greene being thrown right towards it. She drew her blade and grinded the sharp edge on his neck, threatening to chop off his head if he resisted.
Guessing that the group wanted to open the door, the scientist reluctantly complied and did the eyescan. The door recognised the familiar individual and sled open. Mabel watched the scientist as her companions came inside to check the artifact laid before their eyes. It was a crystal sphere with yellow hue and the size of a soccer ball. The surface was glimmering with a mix of light green.
"Is this it then? Can it really allow us to travel to another world?"
"According to what the higher-up told me, yes." Geofrey responded to Lucy.
"Then let's get the heck out of-"
"Stop right there, trespassers!"
Entering the laboratory was a group of men with guns pointed at the suspicious three. They was notified by the small device that looked like a mouse sent by the scientist being helf captive by Mabel. Geofrey sighed, believing that things never meant to be easy. Even so, they just needed to use the captured scientist as an insurance.
Geofrey signaled Lucy to take away the shining sphere. He turned his face towards the hostile guardsmen and tried to wear a calm expression.
"Gentlemen, why don't you just watch where you're aiming and let us move on our way?"
"They have Doctor Greene as a hostage, should we do something sir?"
"Stand down, squad." *put away his gun* "Let them pass."
Listening to the leading guard, his underlings each put away their arms as the three excuse themselves while still looking at them. Mabel tightened her grip on the handle with the blade only inches away from splitting the scientist's neck in two. The three of them backed away slowly. The men had no choice but to let get away. But then the leading guard gave a signal and gunfire could be heard behind them. Geofrey noticed it two but it was too late. Several bullets were flying towards Mabels.
It turned out that the leader had called for some back up before facing the three. He would let the enemies think that they had the upper hand and signal a surprise attack. As a weilder of sword dance, she hadn't possessed the speed to avoid a horde of bullets. She couldn't survive the attack, let alone having only a few wounds.
If... the fact that she was a tainted didn't count at least.
Surprisingly to the men behind the armory, all the bullets flew to the ground as if they had decided to take a permanent break. The scientist was afraid off being hit by the bullets himself but suddenly felt thankful that his body was unscathered. However, he knew there would be only one explaination for that and it was unreal.
"She's... completely fine? What the heck? Someone please-"
The scientist or doctor Greene was thrown again by an invisible force, his body lougued at the confused guards. Their formation was destroyed like the bottles in a bowling match. Mabel herself couldn't care less about the poor guy. She had to admit that dealing with humans was more troublesome than with ghouls, her blade couldn't to much on its own against men like the guards. But if they wanted to be the obstacle to her path of power then she would gleefully see them as sentinent dummies.
"Oh oh, Mabel is getting serious now." Lucy chuckled. "You guys are as good as broken."
"I didn't want to get into this but oh well. I hope little Bryce is okay, they probably have sent some men to the security room."
:Uncle, let me handle them. My blade will cleave through all obstacles."
"Don't be so full of yourself, we got something else for you too. Fire!"
Mabel ran forward with her blade unsheathed. The men launched for missiles at her but they dodged her on their own. Her attackers were flabbergasted and the missles ended up flying towards the other group of men that were trying to apprehend Lucy and Geofrey. The two of them realy didn't have to do anything. Mabel told them to let her handle the situation and she ended up staying true to her words.
She leaped and slashed at the men desperate to defense themselves. Her movements were fast and light. The men couldn't catch up and each of them got cuts on their arms because only the torso was armored.
At the same time as Mabel descended from midair after several attacks, the battle ended with the men from both group with total defeat. Dr Greene was still conscious after being thrown so he got to witness Mabel's dispay of power as the guy sitting on the first row.
'What the hell is she? How could she singlehandedly take down several men? They all have the lattest models of weapons ever.'
Those were the thoughts of the scientist trying to grasp some senses out of what he just saw, typical of his profession. However, the answer wouldn't wait for him. Mabel knocked him unconscious then she went away along with her companions. Hopefully, Bryce would be able to handle the men knocking the door if it did come down to that.
...
Bryce was still in the process of hijacking the security system in order to ensure the win to be on his side and those accompanied with him as well. His nose had gotten used to the metallic smell in the security room, his ears accustomed to the sounds of tapping and his steady breath.
He only needed fifteen more minutes for the computer to be completely hacked. His victory was close and he expected the same for others. Then he could ask to be paid and continue living on... all for the sake of stacking up the pending urge for vengeance. Yet, it would seem like his victory had to be delayed by the approaching footsteps he heard.